Just had a crazy thought. Since to one extent or another, for a million reasons, many of us think of government as out of control and unresponsive. Our elected representatives get tone deaf, priorities aren't what we think they should be. Can't get to them, can't make them listen. So.....

How about if every taxpayer could designate, say, 25% of his/her income taxes for a specific agency, department, etc? All the rest would be handled as usual, general fund, all functions of government supported. But that 25% would go to the places and functions that you actually support. Think about it and the impact on policy. How about the marketing campaigns that the Department of State or the EPA would have to mount to get funding. Think the agencies would respond to your emails, phone calls? Think about how they'd have to tailor their initiatives and programs to (wait for it...) something the people actually want done.